Saturday, 28 June 2008

Hi blog land, I hope you're all enjoying your weekend. I'm having as much of a relaxing day as possible, having got up this morning not feeling to good & have felt tired all day. Oh well only a few more weeks of getting up early & then we can slow down a little, & I can then start to think about going on my hols at the end of the school holidays. The boys are already on a count down & Tom my youngest can't wait to go on 'His' plane....lol.

Today's card is for my Mom & Dads Anniversary. I'm really pleased with myself as its not until the start of August, so for once I'm ahead! woo hoo..... (still have loads to make in the meantime though)Everything on this card is of do crafts products. Papers, vellum, eyelets, brad & adheasive rhinestones are all Papermania, inks are Ink it up & Whispers & Whispers words sentiment stamp. Reason being, I popped into a local garden center yesterday & found it to be my local stockists of do crafts products. Now this could be quite bad as I spent quite a bit yesterday....(shhhhh don't tell hubby lol) & now I know its so close....well!!

Monday, 23 June 2008

Well, I'm on a roll......two posts in one day, think I need a lie down now!!! lol.

Above we have another of my lil sketches which I've made up into a card. This image is of me & my Nan. (who sadly passed on when I was 14) As with my other recent sketches I've used an old photo as my inspiration. The piccie was taken on a big family day out at Blackpool & my Mom tells me I was about 2 or 3 at the time. Lets just say the clothes were very seventies.....lolWhen I showed this sketch to my Mom she got a bit sentimental saying, "it's my Mom & my baby!". Because of this I think I'll not let my Mom see this card & give it to her for Mother's day next year, as I feel it would be appropriate.

Back to the card.............distressed heaven...hehe!!As you may notice I've done quite a bit of distressing with this one. Again, edges, inking & a bit of tearing. I then thought that the actual image didn't look old enough soooooo, I made hubby a cup of tea then used the tea bag/leaves to rub into the paper. This was something I remembered doing when I was little, when I used to make treasure maps & scrolls......sad I know, & I think hubby thought I'd gone mad!!!! lol. But it worked!PP's are all K&Co, I've clear embossed the flower & image & written the sentiments, then finished off with ribbon & buttons.

Hi to all. I hope you all had a fab weekend, whatever you were up to. Ours was jam packed, but all good fun!!

If anyone remembers I posted a while back about doing a few designs for someone else....if you hadn't already realised it was for Kitty's 'Spiral Whisper'. If you haven't already checked their blog out, go have yourself a nosey!The launch date for the new site is July 21st but in the mean time Kitty is previewing some of the fab designs that have been created by the other very talented designers. Also, there is a naming competition being run at the moment giving a chance to win a set of stamps.My lil characters will be popping up at some point too, they are the lil fellows I used on 'when i grow up' & 'goodbyes make me cry' along with a few more.

Friday, 20 June 2008

Above we have a card for hubbies cousin who has just had a lil boy.All the pp's, the letters & the matching image are from a digital download kit at Sweet Shoppe Designs called Bundle of Boy. As soon as I saw this kit I fell in love with it, it's soooo cute!!!Now I was told of the site by Jools, I'm not sure whether to thank her or not as there are so many kits on there that I want.........sorry NEED!.......lol. Personally I think she was trying to torment me......mmmm, only joking Jool.

Thursday, 19 June 2008

Hiya blogging buddies, I hope you are well & happy!This last week has been hectic, rushing from one place to another. Eldest son had his first football presentation last weekend, very proud Mommy moment as he got two trophies!! Father's day, (hope you all had a good one) normal hectic week days & then yesterday eldest was sent home from school poorly........just a week in the life of me...lol. (not to mention this weekend is even more so.....)

Above we have something totally different. Hubbies friend asked if I could come up with something for his M&FIL's Ruby Anniversary, something nice, with their wedding photo on, a verse & ideally in a box. Hopefully I've delivered!? Won't know until he sees it today.PP's are Shabby Princess from the freebie digital kit Amore. Cream & Ruby linen cs, lace, ribbon, eyelets & embellies which I've used before that were originally from a bracelet I had.The verse is one I found on the internet a while back & thought would be appropriate.I did ask hubby if he thought they'd mind a bit of distressing........his answer 'maybe not'.I can imagine cards with a distressed feel would be an acquired taste, some people do like/some people don't. Soooo I did do a bit..........but only ever so slightly...lol!

Thursday, 12 June 2008

Hello, nearly the weekend again.....yay!!! But, can we please have the nice weather back?!......I much prefer the sun to the rain lol.

Now, today's card. I decided to make one of the sketches that I did at the weekend into a card.I've drawn the image from a photo of me & my younger cousin. As you can no doubt gather, it was taken quite a while ago..........lol.The floral paper, which I really do love is K&Co & I've then used two different tones of Bazzill cs. As of late I just had to do a little distressing........don't really know why I like this so much at the moment. However not just content with fraying & inking the edges I've also embossed them with gold.As with past cards I have clear embossed the image, but along with this I've also done the same to the floral paper & I'm really pleased with the effect its given.I've then added lace, eyelets, ribbon & finished with doodlebug rub-ons for the sentiment.

Thanks & also apologies in terms of the card shape. Thanks for the inspiration gained from other bloggers (that I have seen) who have used this shape & apologies as I can't remember where I have seen them so can't give specific thanks. However, I've thought all have been fantastic!!

Anyway, another day, another football match!! oh joy..........but, at least it means I can hopefully do a bit of blog hopping later lol.

Wednesday, 11 June 2008

Hello all, I hope you are all well & happy. Was looking through my blog last night & decided it might be nice to pop another freebie doodle on here. So, above we have a lil couple in the stylie of 'cool dude'..........lol.If anyone can make use of these two then please feel free. Again the only favour I ask is that you respect my copyright.

I think I am safe in calling this one a doodle...........hehe, thank you, I think.....lol for the tellings off on my last card. But, I would just like to thank everyone who visits my blog & for comments I receive I really am grateful. Thank you!

Monday, 9 June 2008

Hello all. What a gorgeous day, sun shining & hot! Fantastic.Well, I did it, I made sure that my next card was another Father's day one & not another Sweet Ebony card. The temptation was there but considering we've now got less than a week to Father's day I thought I must.....lol

This one is for me to give to my Dad. Like I said before about hubby not being into cards my Dad is even worse. Setting the scene, my Mom & Dad are about to celebrate their 49th anniversary in the summer & as far as I'm aware he has never sent my Mom a card in all of those years! We all know what he's like though so.........cards are just not his thing lol.

PP's are Basic Grey 'two scoops' which I have then distressed ever so slightly, along with what started out as white card.....again just a hint of distressing...hehe.Eyelets & ribbon to finish off.The image is a lil doodle I did over the weekend. For some reason I had a mad idea of sorting through some old photos & found a few which I thought would be ideal to make sketches from, this being one of them. (it's not actually my Dad) I also did a few others of me when I was a lil girl. As yet I don't know if I'm going to turn them into cards as I've left them as pencil sketches but I was quite pleased with how they turned out. You never know I might show you.....lol.

So, I hope you are all enjoying the weather & lets hope it stays for a while!!!Kerry xxx

Thursday, 5 June 2008

My intention.......was to make another father's day card, but unfortunately I don't think I could justify sending this one...lolYou could say I got a little side tracked with another of the images from Vicki. I'm finding them really lovely to work with & they fit so well with the style of cards I seem to be making of late.So the next one will 'have' to be a father's day card.........well maybe...hehe

As before, the image is coloured with my watercolour pencils & then clear embossed over. I'm loving using this technique at the moment. Pp's are Shabby Princess freebie downloads, inked & distressed.'A few peeps have asked me how I distress my edges, I'm not saying this is the best or easiest way & if anyone knows of anything better please tell as I always love learning new things. All I do is run the edge of my steel rule along the edge of the card/paper, which makes it fray. The more times I do it, the more distressed/frayed the paper becomes. (I have also used the edge of my scissors) Then maybe a few tears here & there & a rub along the edges with my brown & mossy stone inks. hth'I've then added some ribbon, sentiment tape, (kindly given to me by Jools the other day, thank you!) lace from a local shop & a couple of lovely lil heart buttons which I picked up at Jools' local market at the weekend.Now, I think I need to move the rest of the images from Vicki so as I can get on with cards I 'need' to make......but then, I did buy some gorgeous papers which would....................lol

Wednesday, 4 June 2008

Sunshine!!!...........yay!! Don't know about anyone else but I always feel happier when the suns out, so today's a good day!

Decided I needed to get a move on with Father's day cards, I've got so many to make, from myself & hubby & from my boys to various peeps. So, above we have the first one for my boys to give to their Dad. Now I might be into cards in a big way but hubby isn't. He is wonderfully supportive with everything I do craft wise, but he's not one for going into shops specially to buy cards. Come to think of it I personally don't know any men who do! (I know others do...)

With this in mind I just wanted to make a simple card, no fuss. The image of the rhino is a doodle I drew a couple of weeks ago when I was in my 'animal' period.......lol, the same time as I did the giraffe's & zebra. I think its a good image for hubby, strong, bold & powerful!........he can pay me later....hehe

I've then used a few pieces of coloured cs, ribbon, a couple of brads & added a sentiment which is doodlebug rub-ons. Quite pleased with how its turned out & the boys seem to like it, that's what matters.

Tuesday, 3 June 2008

Happy Tuesday to you all, I hope you are having a good day!As you can see I've been having a play with another of the beautiful images which Vicki very kindly sent me. Thank you Vicki.I've always loved gingham patterns & thought this image would go well. I wanted the card to be quite bold with its colours so chose to go with red, white & navy, colouring in to suit. Again, I've then clear embossed over to make the colours stand out more. The papers are various downloads & I've then used navy cs for contrast.The buttons, I bought from a local shop last week. A bargin at 50p for 25 buttons!I've actually used a needle & thread on this card & have the scars to prove it!..........lol, lets just say my fingers some how got in the way a few times.....ouch!!To finish off I added a couple of gingham hearts.

Monday, 2 June 2008

My goodness where has the time gone?.......I didn't realise it had been so long since my last post, bad blogger me!!........lol. I hope everyone is well & hopefully over the next few days I can catch up on blogs & posts, & get some crafting in.In my defence I've been away for the weekend, staying at Jools' & BIL's house. Four energetic lil boys, two mad Dad's & two craft mad, non stop talking Mom's.........brilliant!!!A great weekend of fantastic company, gorgeous food, the odd tipple, (hiccup.......) ten pin bowling, karaoke (hehe...), shopping & crafting.......doesn't get much better!!!

Now, I've had the pleasure of receiving a few awards, of which I am most grateful.A couple of them are duplicates, so ladies if you wouldn't mind I won't put them on again. But, I couldn't not mention them or 'you!'

'Circle of friends' has been passed on by the lovely Tara, (Happily ever crafting) thank you so much Tara. Tara has recently started her blog & its a must see, her cards are beautiful! So pop over & check it out.

'You rock my socks' with the fabby blue socks, from the lovely Vicky (Cuddly cards) Vicky, thank you so much, not just for the very kind award but for the really lovely comment you have put with it........'Hello'........lol. Again please go & check her blog out, another newbie blog & well worth the visit!

Huge thanks to each of you ladies it really is appreciated!Again, please go check out each of these blogs, a feast for the eyes!!!

With regards to each of these awards there are so many people who I would like to pass them on to. My circle of friends is ever increasing, of which I love & every blog I come across deserves the rock my socks & kreative blogger awards. Because of this I can't narrow it down, so please all accept these awards from me!!!

Now, if I haven't sent anyone to sleep with my long post I have also been tagged by the lovely Michelle & Jilli too.

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. Ten Years AgoWell, I was 23 & working very hard, as a Product Engineer for an automotive company, still in my 'honeymoon' period as I was within my first year of marriage. Pre-children so having fun with only a tad of responsibility, oh what a difference 10 years make....lol!

2. 5 Things in todays 'To Do List'

1. Food shopping, I think the boys might notice no dinner...hehe

2. Ironing.............arrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhh

3. Swimming lessons for the boys tonight.

4. Make cards, I bought lots of new craft goodies over the weekend & want to play!

5. Blog hop, I want to catch up on what everyone has been up to.

3. Snacks I Enjoy

1. Olives!!..............mmm mmmm2. Cheese & crakers, the stronger the cheese, the better.3. Not so much a snack but with certain meals, breads to dip in oils, herbs, balsamic vinegar...... You might see a pattern of savories here...lol

About Me

...hi, I'm 34 married & mom to two fantastic boys. I started crafting apr '07, thanks to my sis-in-law & have been hooked since. I love beautiful papers, ribbons, brads....the norm really, but what I like the most is drawing my own doodles & using them for my cards.

copyright info

Many thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you have enjoyed having a look around. I would be flattered if anyone found inspiration here but please, do not copy or take credit for my work. All images, drawings, doodles & content 'copyright kerry steptoe'.

I design for

kerry jo stamps can be found here

Followers

if you would like to use these freebie doodles, feel free, all I ask is that you respect my copyright.If you click on the image you want it will take you to the original post, where you can see a larger image & from there you can 'save picture as'.Thank you & enjoy!!